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Iraq MPs demand partial recount of election results

The non-binding resolution follows complaints of voter rigging

Iraqi Shiite cleric and leader Moqtada al-Sadr puts his ballot through an electronic counting machine into a ballot box at poll station in Najaf on May 12, 2018. Some Iraqis have raised concerns that the machines could be hacked. Haidar Hamdani / AFP

A note for those making a big deal over the #Iraq parliament's vote yesterday on the election:

This was a non-binding resolution, whatever Iraqi MPs say, they have no authority to pass legislation canceling votes or requiring anything regarding an election. It means nothing.
— Kirk H. Sowell (@UticaRisk)
May 29, 2018

Voting in this year's election was conducted electronically for the first time, in an effort to combat perceptions of voter fraud. However, even before polls closed a number of politicians and monitoring groups raised concerns that the machines could be hacked.

On May 17, Jan Kubis, the UN's special envoy to Iraq, called on Iraq's IHEC to investigate complaints of voting irregularity to strengthen confidence in the electoral process. “The commission has to act expeditiously in order to seriously address all complaints including, as necessary, the conduct of partial manual recount in selected locations, notably in Kirkuk," he said.

IHEC says it has already invalidated ballots from 103 polling stations in five provinces. Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi has said that accusations of fraud will be investigated.

The demand for a recount may be politically motivated, some Iraqi politicians argue. "Losers are losing," tweeted former finance minister Hoshyar Zebari.